Thanks that's good to know I'm going to try that Bees have been eveywhere this year. Sarah

Sarah they sure have. It doesn't hurt the bees nor the hummers. I don't know how long it will work but I figure if it helps even a little it is worth the time to do it. I figure I have plenty of flowers that the bees can go to. They still have the coneflowers, purple monarda jacob's ladder and even the jewelweed to use.

BTW, I used a cotton ball that I poured some vinegar onto and then wiped the feedr down with the cotton ball and drizzle a little extra behind the flowr ports on the back side.

Penny

Sarah
I have also found that my yellowjacket trap isn't working as well this year. Several have figured out how to go in to get nectar and right back out again. I wouldn't care if they didn't seem to have a penchant for attacking me. We had a nest right by the back door so after destroying the nest I hung the trap under the eaves on the other side so I could at least get them away from the door. They seem to be content with the nectar in the trap and they haven't really been a problem at the feeders, just the honey bees.

Penny

My biggest problem right now are waspssss. There is always one on the most used feeeeder which has a clear bottom and the HBs won't land or stay long. The second feeder has a redd bottom but the burds don't like it as well for some reason. Linda

Thanks Penny I will try that tommorrow when I change their feeders. Sarah

Sarah,
I ended up putting the vinegar on a small cotton ball and taping it to the bottom of the feeder with a bandaid so that the smell lingered longer. You could also use a small piece of cotton knit like a piece of an old sock, tshirt etc.

Penny

Penny,
Regular or apple cider vinagar? And you are right, the bees do like that PP feeder but so do the birds.

I had so many bees at the feeder last week that I took a left over piece of watermelon... poured sugarwater on it....and put it near the feeder... each day I've moved it back into the far corner of the yard / and so far..it's working and have few less bees to bother my little guys in THEIR feeder.

Birdlegs,
I used the white distilled vinegar as that is what I use to clean the feedrz with but I would think that either would be fine. I found you do have to make sure that it stays moist so the scent repells them. I am actually going to try and replace that feeder today since I will be gone camping for a few days.

Navy Mom,
I like your idea too of using the fruit to lure them away. I may try that too.

Penny

If anyone is having dry weather, it's possible that the bees and wasps are looking for moisture. This would be particularly true of wasps not ordinarily attracted to nectar being all over the feeders, and escaping from traps that usually work: there are different types of wasps. Some are more aggressive than others, and very difficult to trap in anything, ie: various paper wasps. (Since I'm very allergic to wasps I've tried everything to get rid of them!)

The watermelon mentioned above, as well as ordinary plant-pot trays or pans of water may help draw them away from the feeders and people areas. I've also noticed the bright yellow yellow-jacket traps with lures don't work if water is what they're looking for.

DPallas,
That is a good point to consider. It has been extremely hot and dry here in my part of the northeast all summer long. I do have plant saucers with water under most of my potted plants and a bird bath with water but I never see anything but birds using the water. I don't use the commercial yellow jacket lure in my trap. I use plain old sugar water from my feedrs when I change out the nectr.
Penny

I've never tried a yellow jacket trap before, so I didn't know what to buy, and ended up with a Rescue! trap and 10-week cartridge. Not very useful, imo. Yellow jackets were never a problem before this summer, which has been one of the dryest on record down here. I think I will refill it with nectar from now on, that's what they seem to like best. Thanks for the suggestion!

DPallas,
I also have the Rescue trap. I just pour some of the old nectar in the cup that is in the center of the base and screw it back together. I have also used left over fruit nectar or the juice of maraschino cherries. When it is really hot and dry like this year it empties out in a couple of days. I mainly use it b/c they seem to like to nest by my back door and we can't use it. This keeps them away from the door.

Penny

I rubbed the bottom of the feeder with apple cider vinegar and then put the cotton ball in the antmoat cup on top of the feeder that DH hot glued on. Well the bees are loving the bottom of the feeder, and going to the cup. Go figure! I think the apple cider vinegar is maybe to sweet. Will do white next change. One constlation is they are staying away from the ports.
Ps. DH drinks a couple of tlbs. of the apple vinegar everday and hasn't had a cold in 15years. He swears by it, saying that no bacteara can live in that stuff.

No kidding How about that. I notice they are still bothering my feeders, but I didn't use the cotton balls yet as soon as I get my car back I'm going to the supermarket and buy some anything to keep them away it worked for a while yesterday when I changed the feeders I used a paper towel to put the vinegar on. I know where the yellowjackets or paperwasps nest is too. It's right in a fake paper mache hummingbird garden decoration from mexico. Sarah

I noticed last night and today a big fat black bee almost camping out on the front feeder. Zummy doesn't seem to mind but now some wasps etc are hanging around. I changed the food today and did the vinegar thing but no one seems to be paying attention to it and go right on camping out. I hung up one of my wasp traps on a side wall and hope some will meander over there.

Has anyone come up with any additional suggestions for repelling bees from feeders? Over the past three days, a VERY aggressive swarm of honeybees have been swarming our feeders. This has never happened before, and we're trying to 'discourage' them without harming them. So far, WE'RE discouraged. The bees seem unaffected!

I have tried everything, vicks, vinegar, cooking oil, spraying the ports down with water a few times a day....nothing affects the honey bees - if they can reach into the ports they WILL. And my problem is ONLY with HONEY BEES. I have heard success stories with the saucer type feeders though like Hummzinger because the nectar is far down on the bottom of the saucer the bees can't reach. I will try one of these next year.

I thought I posted somewhere about getting the bees and wasps to move. I had somekind of flowering plant that the h's didn't like and it was on the railing near the feed -er. One or two wasps would sit on it. Maybe there was a drip from the F'r. Anyway I poured some sugar water on the plant and they all went there and then I kept moving it until I moved it away from the house and stck it on top of some bushes. I haven't seen any bees or wasps around the f'r anymore and am careful to sprinkel some s- water on the plant now and then. I'm using funny abbrev to avoid the hidden ad inserts